A participatory process approach to development of a comprehensive water resources management plan for Sri Lanka

A strategic framework and action plan for comprehensive water resources management in Sri Lanka were developed using a ''participatory process approach.'' This approach incorporated a number of elements, including seminars of the steering committee of senior officials, a series of technical workshops facilitated by international experts, numerous interviews of officials and stakeholders, field inspections, consultation and synthesis of documentation, and a final two-day workshop/retreat. The emphasis of the process was to draw on the widest possible range of skills and to obtain a consensus among all stakeholders. The intended project outputs, the strategic framework and action plan, were successfully achieved. In addition, less tangible but possibly more important outcomes that were achieved included agreement to the framework and plan by senior officials from virtually all water-sector organizations, a heightened level of interaction and understanding of of others' perspectives among officials and stakeholders, and an enhanced level of knowledge of alternate approaches to water resources management. A number of conclusions can be drawn from the exercise. Perhaps most significant is the crucial importance of negotiation and communication skills, in addition to the more familiar technical skills and knowledge required in water sector planning and management.